Nation: California: Career's End

In some ways Richard Nixon symbolized the American dream. Of humble
beginnings, he almost won the highest honor the U.S. can offer. He was
elected a U.S. Representative at 33, a Senator at 37, Vice President at
39, and at 47 he became the Republican nominee for President. And yet,
barring a miracle, his political career ended last week. He was only
49. But something had gone wrong. Perhaps he had risen too far too
fast.

There could be little question about Nixon's abilitiesyet they earned
him almost as many enemies as admirers. He came to national attention
as the House investigator...